Claire's POV:

All I saw was darkness surrounding me like it was gonna eat me up. I kept running not stopping at all. I was running not knowing when this darkness will end. I heard footsteps following me and it was catching up to me.

My heart was pumping hard and fast as I kept forcing my legs to run further, out of the dark and into the light but it seemed never-ending.

I shot my eyes open gasping for air looking around to find myself still in the warm bed. Another nightmare.

I let out a sigh of relief and wiped the sweat dripping down my forehead, at least I'm out of the dark.

I looked at the clock on the side table, it reads 8:35. The sun was out and bright, and I could see the sunlight breaking through the heavy thick curtains.

There was a knock on the door, I let out a soft 'come in' and walks in Derek with a towel and clothes in his hands.

"Good morning kitten" he said smiling at me and putting the towel and clothes at the edge of the bed.

"Good morning Derek" I said with a little smile feeling well-rested, my muscles were a lot more relaxed after a good night's sleep.

"I got you a new towel and clothes for you to change into." He said pointing at the clothes.

"Ella will help you shower" an elderly woman walked in as he spoke, she smiled warmly at me. I returned her smile with a smile of my own.

"I'll be waiting outside the door, let me know when your ready for breakfast kitten" he said ruffling my hair and I nodded.

He walked out closing the door behind him.

"Hello dear, I'm Ella. What is your name love?" She asked sweetly.

"I'm Claire" I said smiling at her, she came towards me and held her hand out.

"Come I'll help you get freshen up" I grabbed her hands as she helped me out of bed and towards another door that I assume was the bathroom.

~~~~~~~~~

After Ella helped me clean and shower, I felt better already. I was filthy, it felt good to be clean again. She helped me dress in the clothes Derek gave me, which were another oversized buttoned-up shirt and shorts, I wonder if it's Derek's.

I got dressed with Ella's help, she was so heartwarming and welcoming, I saw the look of pity in her eyes as she was changing my bandage.

"You're all ready to go now" she said after helping me put my shorts on, they were big on me so I had to fold them twice so they wouldn't fall.

"Thank you very much, Ella" I thanked her.

She leaned and pecked my forehead "Don't thank me, sweetheart, call me if you need anything without hesitation ok?" She said making me tear up, I've never had women treat me as sweet and with love before, like a mother.

I nodded my head and she walked out of the room leaving me alone with my thoughts. What is this place and why are these people being nice to me? Just a few days ago a man threatened to kill me, tortured me, and now this? Are these people with him?

My train of thought broke when there was a knock on the door. Derek walked in giving me a soft smile.

"Feeling any better?" He asked and walked towards me.

"A lot better after the shower" I said smiling politely at him. He came and picked me up bridle style and carried me downstairs towards the dining room.

Even tho I barely even knew him but it felt natural, he was one of those rare people who you instantly click with.

As we reached the dining room I noticed the dining table wasn't empty like last night, a couple was sitting there having breakfast, they were busy and didn't notice us walk in.

"Hey Oli, hey Chlo" Derek greeted catching their attention.

He put me in a chair and sat on my left side, the head seat of the table was empty which was on my right side.

"Kitten, that's Oliver, he's like a brother to me and this is Chloe, his wife and soon to be the mother of his child" Derek introduced me to the couple sitting in front of us.

"Hey kitten" Oliver mocked Derek making him scoff.

"Yo man you can't call her that, I gave her the nickname" Derek argued making both Chloe and Oliver laugh out loud.

Oliver had sharp features, blonde hair, and pretty blue eyes and his wife looked so marvelously beautiful like a model with her brunette long and silky hair and green eyes. They both looked perfect together.

"How are you feeling sweet pea?" Chloe asked looking at me a little worried.

"I'm b-better" I mumbled shyly.

Derek fixed me a plate of pancakes and strawberries on the side. I started eating and so did everyone else. Oliver and Derek were making jokes every now and then making me and Chloe giggle and laugh.

For once in days I felt normal, in-between normal people.

I found that Chloe was 6 months pregnant. Chloe and Oliver had been married for 3 years and it was their first baby, Oliver seemed really excited about the little one's arrival.

We all were talking and eating, I was for once having a good time then suddenly the room fell quiet, like deadly quiet. I looked at Derek and he for once looked nervous. Even Chloe and Oliver went silent and focused on their food. My heart sped up hearing the footsteps nearing us.

I kept my head low covering my face with my hair. The footsteps stopped right beside me, nervousness raked through my body.

The chair on my right was pulled and he sat. I was too scared to look at who it was, even tho I already knew who it was just by the smell of his cologne. Dangerous and captivating.

Ella came rushing to serve him. I peeked toward Derek, he was already looking at me with worry clear on his face.

I gave him a pleading look, he understood that I wanted out of there, away from him. His presence scares me.

Derek nodded standing up and proceeded to pick me up.

"Don't" he muttered roughly making Derek stop. Derek looked towards him with a clenched jaw.

"But-" he was cut off by a loud bang on the table. I jumped in fear as my lip started to tremble.

"Leave" he ordered with authority in his voice. Oliver helped his wife out of the chair and both of them left the dining room.

I looked at Derek scared for my life and shook my head pleading with him not to leave me with this monster, he looked at me with pity and walked away with his head held low. No!

Everyone left, it was just me and him, alone.

I sighed as I closed my eyes and took a deep breath trying to calm my racing heart down.

"Look at me" he commanded roughly, I was for sure trembling.

My nerves were wrecking up, and preparing myself to look at him was harder than I initially thought.

"Did I not make it clear how much I hate repeating myself" his voice got harder, I don't think I have any other choice.

I hesitantly lift my head to look at him, he was staring down right into my eyes, as if he was searching for something. His face held no emotion, he was void of any emotion, not even anger.

My hands were sweating and shaking terribly because of his intense stare. I bit my lower lip trying to stop it from trembling.

"Do you know who I am?" He asked not taking his eyes off me, he was analyzing my every single movement.

I shook my head negatively. Obviously, I don't know who he is but I'm sure he is not someone to mess with.

"Hm, do you know who the black wolves are?"

I gulped and nodded my head. Everyone knows who the black wolves are. They are the most feared and scary people in the whole damn New York. I've heard many horrifying rumors about them, not even the police force can stop them, all I've known is black wolves were not someone you wanna have a problem with unless you have a death wish.

But why's he asking me about them? What does he have to do with-

oh my god is he..? no, no freaking way in hell!

My face paled of all colors. I could feel my heartbeat rising.

"By the look on your face I assume you've figured out who I am" he said taking a bite of pancakes off his plate. A look of satisfaction on his face.

By all his glory, vicious and dangerous demeanor. I don't think he's in the mafia. He runs it!

I could feel the panic slowly creeping up to my throat. I couldn't speak, I couldn't breathe, and my vision started getting blurry.

He's the most feared man in the country, he practically runs it, if he wants me dead he won't hesitate even for a second.

My hands started to shake uncontrollably and so did my body. I could feel my body go numb.

I tried pushing my body away from him trying to get as far away from him as humanly possible. He must have noticed that I was going into a panic attack because he called out Derek's name, I was starting to lose consciousness when my eyes landed on his worried face of Derek. He took big steps towards me and picked me up effortlessly and started to whisper soothing words to me.

"Ssshh I got you kitten, relax everything's gonna be ok" he kept whispering and comforting me.

He tried to calm me down, to get a hold of myself but it didn't help. Tears started rolling down my cheeks as I couldn't feel my body anymore. I was on the verge of passing out.

"Take her upstairs and make sure she doesn't leave the room" he ordered.

"She is not your fucking prisoner Xavier" Derek hissed at Xavier, it's his name?

Their voices were starting to get muffled and the ringing in my ears became unbearably loud.

"I didn't ask you, Derek, that was a fucking order, now take her upstairs before I change my fucking mind and throw her in that goddamn dungeon again because that's where the prisoners belong!" he roared loudly.

My cries got even worse and soon I blacked out, blocking out every sound around me.

~~~~~~~~~~~

Waking up I felt exhausted, my throat was scratchy and my head was feeling pretty heavy. Looking around I noticed Derek sitting beside the bed, busy on his phone.

I opened my mouth to speak but my voice came out hoarse grabbing his attention.

"God you're awake, you had me worried!" He rushed out making me frown in confusion. How long was I out for?

"You were unconscious for 4 hours" he sighed rubbing his forehead.

"Are you feeling any better?" He asked and I only nodded.

"I'm sorry for how my brother acted earlier, kitten" Derek spoke rubbing my arm soothingly.

"He's not much of a smooth talker, but he won't hurt you, now especially since you're my friend"

Wait his brother? That explains the same eyes.

"You are my friend, right?" Derek asked with hopeful eyes and I couldn't say no to that so I nodded. His smile lit up like a kid making me smile as well. He's pretty sweet to be in a Mafia.

"Here I got your medicine, you should rest some more" he said popping out a tablet from its pack and handing it to me.

I slowly sat up and took it placing it in my mouth and took a big sip of water gulping it down.

"I've got some business to talk about with my brother" he muttered angrily and stood up and walked out closing the door behind him, leaving me alone with my thoughts.

I layed back as the thoughts of earlier events ran wild in my head. Black wolves. Xavier Winston. Who almost killed me once and is now holding me hostage for god knows what reason.

Shutting my eyes I hoped to block out every thought and fall asleep which gladly didn't take too long and soon I fell into a somewhat comfortable sleep.

I can only hope for the best.

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